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• The energy bands of Fe and Mn co-adsorbed monolayers of SnSe 2 exhibit semi-metallicity. • As tensile strain increases, the adsorption system transitions from semi-metallic to metallic, accompanied. • The co-adsorption system's curie temperature is calculated to be 205.2 K. • The application of Fe and Mn double transition metal atoms to monolayer SnSe 2 may have potential. Pure 2D SnSe 2 is not magnetic, which limits its application in spintronics. However, magnetic properties can be induced in pure 2D SnSe 2 by introducing transition metal elements. In this study, we used first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory to predict the electronic structure and magnetic properties of monolayer SnSe 2 under adsorption of Fe and Mn double transition metal atoms. Our findings show that the energy bands of Fe and Mn co-adsorbed monolayers of SnSe 2 exhibit semi-metallicity. As tensile strain increases, the adsorption system transitions from semi-metallic to metallic, accompanied by an increase in total magnetic moment. Based on the Heisenberg model, the co-adsorption system's Curie temperature is calculated to be 205.2 K. Our studies suggest that the application of Fe and Mn double transition metal atoms to monolayer SnSe 2 may have potential in spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esketamine has been revealed to improve cognitive impairments under different conditions, while its function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been well characterized. We expounded the effects and detailed mechanism of esketamine in triple transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) mice in the present study. The impaired spatial learning and memory retention of 3xTg-AD mice were ameliorated by esketamine, whereas tripartite motif-containing protein 24 (TRIM24) depletion reversed the ameliorative effects of esketamine in 3xTg-AD mice. Esketamine elevated the extent of PI3K and AKT phosphorylation in the hippocampus by promoting TRIM24 expression, and knockdown of TRIM24 impaired the PI3K/AKT pathway. AD-like mice had increased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules and elevated expression of GFAP and p-Tau. Esketamine reduced inflammation, but its therapeutic effect was reversed by TRIM24 knockdown. The PI3K/AKT pathway blockage exacerbated cognitive deficits and neuroinflammatory responses in mice. Thus, esketamine has the potential to improve the cognitive and memory functions of 3xTg-AD mice by repressing neuroinflammation by activating TRIM24 and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The transient stability model is established for VSC-HVDC connected offshore wind farms with different fault positions. • The initial and subsequent fault characteristics are analyzed, the requirements for optimal voltage profile are revealed. • An adaptive current injecting strategy is proposed, both the voltage profile and synchronization stability are enhanced. For the voltage source converter based high voltage direct current transmission (VSC-HVDC) connected offshore windfarm, loss of synchronization (LOS) during the AC collection and transmission system faults can lead to frequency shift and low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) failure. Moreover, the fault characteristics, such as voltage profile and phase angle difference between currents at both ends of transmission lines, are significantly affected by the frequency shift. In this paper, the mechanism of synchronization is theoretically explained. Specifically, the parametric impact of the ratio between the active current and reactive current of wind turbines (WTs) is revealed analytically. Then, the fault characteristics including the AC system voltage profile with the frequency deviation and equilibrium points considered and the initial states during the faults are derived. Based on the fault characteristics and demands for optimal voltage profile, an adaptive current injecting strategy for full-scale type-4 WTs is proposed to enhance synchronization capability and optimize voltage profile during the high voltage transmission line faults. Simulations in EMTP demonstrated the analysis and effectiveness in improvement of transient stability and voltage profile of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, two-dimensional materials are ideal for fabricating optoelectronic and spintronic devices. We have investigated the optical and magnetic properties of −6 % to 6 % strain on Mn-adsorbed monolayer SnSe 2 films using a first-principles approach. The Mn-adsorbed monolayer SnSe 2 is a magnetic semiconductor in the absence of strain effects. As the tensile strain increases, the band gap of the Mn-adsorbed monolayer SnSe 2 decreases and the structure becomes unstable, and Mn adsorption changes to exothermic adsorption at −6 % strain. The magnetic moment of the system increases slightly with increasing tensile strain and decreases rapidly when the strain reaches 4%. As the compressive strain increases, the magnetic moment first decreases slightly and then decreases rapidly when the strain reaches −4 %. Calculations of the optical properties show that the static dielectric constants at −6 %, −4 %, −2 %, 0 %, 2 %, 4 % and 6 % strains are 15.23, 10.19, 8.67, 7.78, 6.38, 5.99 and 5.92, respectively, which increase with increasing compressive strain. It decreases with increase in tensile strain. The static dielectric function increases as the compressive strain increases and decreases as the tensile strain increases. In the visible light region, the reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient and photoconductivity in the XX and ZZ directions increase with increasing tensile strain. Our study shows that the optoelectronic and magnetic properties of the SnSe 2 adsorbed Mn system can be improved to some extent by applying strain, and this study is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the fabrication of SnSe 2 -based magnetic optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emissivity design of building surfaces is crucial for radiative cooling (RC) heat dissipation. This work explores regularities of the influence of the emissivity inside and outside the atmospheric window (AW, 8-13 μm) on the window RC effect using a verified transient building heat transfer model. Results show that the RC effect brought by the radiant heat transfer of the window in non-atmospheric window bands (NAW) may exhibit a reversal phenomenon of first improvement and then weakening with the increase of the outer surface emissivity ε ‾ NAW. The occurrence of this reversal phenomenon is influenced by multiple factors such as meteorological parameters like ambient temperature and solar radiation, as well as architectural features including window orientation and window-to-wall ratio. In addition, as the window-to-wall ratio increases, when no reversal phenomenon occurs, the average RC regulation ability gap between the emissivity inside and outside the AW decreases from 7–40 times, which is observed when the reversal phenomenon occurs, to about 2–5 times, and the relative importance of ε ‾ NAW greatly increases. Regularities revealed provide more reliable guidance for the performance research and material design of RC windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Porous CaO-based spherical pellets were prepared via indirect and direct polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) method. • Energy storage property as well as CO 2 capacity was evaluated under different operating conditions. • CaO pellets possessed excellent energy storage density of 2741 kJ/kg during ten energy storage cycles. • The cyclic CO 2 capture performance of CaO pellets was positively correlated with the tested carbonation temperatures. Calcium looping (CaL) exhibits great prospects for both thermochemical energy storage and CO 2 capture. The granulation of CaO into spherical pellets is a crucial step for its practical application. In this study, a PVA solution was utilized as a binder to prepare CaO spherical pellets. Two different methods including the direct method and indirect method assisted with PVA solution were employed to produce CaO pellets. The experimental results indicated that the carbonation conversion of the sorbents from the indirect method was significantly superior to those from the direct method. For energy storage, CaO pellets decomposed from calcium hydroxide using indirect method exhibited satisfying energy storage density, starting with 3200 kJ/kg at the 1st cycles and ending with a high level of ∼2400 kJ/kg over 10 cycles. In the CO 2 capture performance test, CaO spheres prepared with calcium citrate as a precursor showed promising CO 2 capture performance at around 700 °C. In addition, the effects of carbonation temperature on the energy storage and CO 2 capture performance were also studied. It was indicated that CaO pellets exhibited better cyclic energy storage performance at 750 and 800 °C, and that performed best when carbonated at 700 °C for cyclic CO 2 capture. Besides, the pellets also demonstrated good mechanical properties such as satisfactory long-term anti-attrition ability, further supporting the practical viability of CaO pellets for both thermochemical energy storage and CO 2 capture applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liquefaction of gravelly soil has been demonstrated in many earthquakes, but the constitutive model to predict its liquefaction behavior is limited. The dilatancy equation plays an important role in establishing elastoplastic models of geotechnical materials. Recognizing the unique dilatancy characteristics of gravelly soil, this study introduces an improved nonlinear dilatancy equation into the generalized plasticity model. Consequently, a unified elastoplastic constitutive model is proposed, aimed at accurately predicting both the monotonic and cyclic behaviors of saturated gravelly soil under diverse drainage conditions. A series of drained and undrained triaxial tests of gravelly soil under monotonic and cyclic loadings are carried out to validate the model performance. In addition, the model performance is also examined through monotonic and liquefaction tests of gravelly soil obtained from prior publications. Furthermore, the proposed model is implemented into the nonlinear finite element program GEODYNA and applied to the numerical simulation of the Kobe Port Island liquefaction to better validate the capabilities of the proposed model. From the comprehensive analysis of triaxial tests and numerical simulations, the proposed model performs well in predicting mechanical behavior of gravelly soil and can provide a powerful tool for seismic liquefaction analysis of gravelly soil sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third-generation wave model, WAVEWATCH III, is adopted for numerical simulation during the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season (AHS). This study examines the effects of data assimilation using significant wave height (SWH) from six satellite altimeters, notably the CRYOSAT-2, JASON-3, SENTINEL-3A, SENTINEL-3B, HY-2B, and CFOSAT. Two packages of wind input and wave dissipation (ST4 and ST6) are compared during 22 tropical cyclones, revealing that ST4 is better suited for farshore regions, while ST6 is more appropriate for nearshore areas. Additionally, satellite assimilation has the potential to enhance the predictive capabilities of wave models using diverse parameterization schemes. In farshore regions characterized by high sea conditions and distances less than 200 km from satellite data, a significant reduction in Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) is evident in assimilation experiments, with the degree of improvement escalating as more satellite altimeters are assimilated. Moreover, when model simulations display substantial negative biases, the assimilation of additional altimeters effectively rectifies these biases. However, in nearshore areas, substantial enhancements resulting from increased satellite data assimilation are observable only when the distance to the nearest satellite data is less than 50 km. Future assimilation endeavors should contemplate the inclusion of in-situ observations from nearshore sites. • Satellite assimilation can improve wave models using diverse parameterization schemes. • The degree of assimilation improvement increases as more satellite data is assimilated. • Assimilating more satellite data can correct the significant negative biases in high sea states. • Future assimilation endeavors should include in-situ observations from nearshore sites. • Calibration of altimetry data can slightly improve the assimilation results by reducing biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of a filling body is the main control index of the filling effect, which is significantly affected by the strength and damage characteristics, and its stress increases nonlinearly with damage evolution. In this study, the uniaxial compression test and digital image correlation (DIC) method were used to investigate the stress and damage characteristics of a gangue-cemented backfill, and the stress–strain characteristics and crack propagation laws of the backfill under different curing ages were analyzed. A modified damage model of the gangue-cemented backfill based on the Weibull distribution characteristics of the microelement damage of the backfill and pore closure characteristics in the compression stage was constructed. Through numerical simulations, the nonlinear growth characteristics of stress in the specimen were revealed from the perspective of energy dissipation. The results showed that the nonlinear increase in stress originated mainly from pore closure and crack extension. The crack propagation in the backfill was divided into intermediate crack budding and symmetric crack propagation at the corners. The key signs of the peak stress and fracture of the specimen are the connection of the surface cracks and fracture surfaces on both sides. The proposed modified damage model was proven to be in relatively close agreement with the experimental results. The stress growth in the backfill exhibited a nonlinear-linear-nonlinear growth pattern before the peak stress. This study provides a theoretical basis for studying the strength characteristics and damage evolution of backfill, which is important for optimizing the material proportions and analyzing the stability of the quarry and other aspects. • The backfill deformation corresponding to the nonlinear growth of stress is obtained. • Clarified the generation mechanism of two-stage nonlinear stress growth. • Established a modified damage evolution model for backfill considering nonlinear stress growth during compaction stage. • From the perspective of energy evolution, the nonlinear growth mechanism of stress in the filling body has been revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Our study included 208 eligible patients with unresectable or advanced HCC who received immunotherapy as first line therapy. We found that PLR < 100 was an independent factor associated with better tumor response of immunotherapy. • Patients with PLR < 100 had longer PFS than other patients, while OS showed no significant difference. In subgroup analysis, we found that PLR had better prognostic value in patients received bevacizumab plus anti-PD-1 antibody therapy. • Our data indicate baseline PLR can serve as a predictor of objective response and survival outcome to immunotherapy in patients with unresectable or advanced HCC, especially who treated with bevacizumab plus anti-PD-1 antibody. • We have provided a clinically feasible approach, since patients with advanced or unresectable HCC are unlikely to provide tumor samples, and standard-of-care blood cell counts can be easily obtained in the clinic. Lymphocyte-related factors were associated with survival outcome of different types of cancers. Nevertheless, the association between lymphocytes-related factors and tumor response of immunotherapy remains unclear. This is a retrospective study. Eligible participants included patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent immunotherapy as their first-line treatment. Radiological assessment of tumor response adhered to RECIST 1.1 and HCC-specific modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were employed to analyze clinical factors associated with tumor response. Kaplan-Meier survivial analysis were employed to compare progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) across different clinical factors. Furthermore, patients who received treatment with either a combination of bevacizumab and anti-PD-1(L1) antibody (Beva group) or tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) and anti-PD-1 antibody (TKI group) were examined to explore the relation between clinical factors and tumor response. A total of 208 patients were enrolled in this study. The median PFS and OS were 9.84 months and 24.44 months,respectively. An independent factor associated with a more favorable tumor response to immunotherapy was identified when PLR<100. Patients with PLR<100 had longer PFS than other patients, while OS showed no significant difference. Further analysis revealed that PLR exhibited superior prognostic value in patients of the Beva group as compared to those in the TKI group. There exisits an association between PLR and tumor response as well as survival outcomes in patients receiving immunotherapy, particularly those treated with the combination of bevacizumab and anti-PD-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necroptosis is a type of regulated cell death known for its pro-inflammatory nature due to the substantial release of cellular contents. The phosphorylation of key proteins, namely RIP1, RIP3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), plays a pivotal role in the processes associated with necroptosis. Consequently, inhibiting the phosphorylation of any of these three key protein kinases could effectively block necroptosis. Utilizing a scaffold hopping strategy, we have successfully designed and synthesized a series of novel RIP1 inhibitors with selective and anti-necrotic properties, using compound o1 as the lead compound. In comparison to o1 , SY1 has demonstrated heightened antinecroptosis activity and binding affinity in vitro studies. Moreover, SY1 has exhibited superior efficacy in both in vivo studies, specifically in the context of SIRS, and pharmacokinetic assessments. Furthermore, SY1 has proven effective in significantly suppressing the central inflammatory response induced by epilepsy. [Display omitted] • We used compound o1 as the lead compound to discover the novel necroptosis inhibitor SY1 through the scaffold hopping strat. • SY1 specifically binds to RIPK1, and it is effective in animal models of SIRS and epilepsy. • After structure optimization, the oral bioavailability of SY1 had significantly increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic reliability analysis of actual slopes considering the spatial variability of soil materials is crucial. However, for the discretization of large-scale random fields, high-precision finite element analysis and analysis of small failure probability events, the random analysis of slopes under seismic loads is inefficient. To address this situation, this study proposes a collaborative reliability analysis framework based on the modified linear estimation method (MLEM) and optimized subset simulation (OSS). First , the random field of the uncertain parameters of the Jinping-I left bank slope model is efficiently discretized by the MLEM, and a sensitivity analysis is carried out. Then , considering the adoption of different degrees of cross-correlation of the sensitive random parameters, the OSS method is used to perform random finite element analysis on the coarse mesh model. Finally , the fine mesh samples are obtained according to the response conditioning method (RCM). The MLEM is used to ensure the consistency of the two sets of random fields, and the seismic failure probability and reliability index of the slope under different cross-correlation coefficients of uncertain parameters are obtained. The results suggest that the degree of cross-correlation of parameters has a great influence on the seismic reliability of the slope. Considering that the shear strength parameters of geotechnical materials are often negatively correlated, the fine analysis based on a fine model is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) has been widely regarded as an important environmental risk factor that has widely influenced health of both animals and humans. Lung injury is the main cause of PM 2.5 affecting respiratory tract health. Gut microbiota participates in the development of lung injury in many pathological processes. However, there is still unknown the specific effects of PM 2.5 on the gut-lung axis in broilers. Thus, we conducted a broiler model based on 3-wk-old male Arbor Acres broiler to explore the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that PM 2.5 exposure triggered TLR4 signaling pathway and induced the increase of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α expression as well as the decrease of IL-10 expression in the lung. Inhaled PM 2.5 exposure significantly altered the gut microbiota diversity and community. Specifically, PM 2.5 exposure decreased α diversity and altered β diversity of gut microbiota, and reduced the abundance of DTU089, Oscillospirales, Staphylococcus , and increased the Escherichia-Shigella abundance, leading to the increase of gut-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Moreover, PM 2.5 significantly disrupted the intestinal epithelial barrier by reducing the expression of muc2 and claudin-1 to increase intestinal permeability, which possibly facilitated the LPS translocation into the blood. Spearman analysis revealed that gut microbiota dysbiosis was positively related to TLR4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ expression in the lung. In summary, our results showed that PM 2.5 exposure induced lung injury by causing inflammation and triggering TLR4 signaling pathway, and also induced gut microbiota dysbiosis resulting in the overproduction of gut-derived LPS. And gut microbiota dysbiosis may be associated with lung injury. The above results provide basis data to comprehend the potential role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the lung injury as well as providing a new regulatory target for alleviating lung injury associated with environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel photocatalyst CeO 2 /ZnTCPP was synthesized by two-step solvothermal. • CeO 2 /ZnTCPP exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. • The type-II heterojunction is favorable for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this work, a two-step solvothermal method was used to design CeO 2 /ZnTCPP composites for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Systematic characterization including morphological, structural, optical and electrochemical measurements revealed a correlation between the sample structure and photocatalytic activity. Compared with pure CeO 2 and ZnTCPP, the optimized CeO 2 /ZnTCPP photocatalyst has good hydrogen production performance (1314.6 μmol g-1h-1). At the same time, the catalyst can still maintain a high hydrogen production rate (1162.7 µmol g-1h-1) under visible light. The experimental results showed that the CeO 2 /ZnTCPP composites have high carrier separation efficiency, which is attributed to the formation of a type-II heterojunction in the structure between the CeO 2 and ZnTCPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An IEKF-UI method is proposed for identifying the structural parameters, unknown dynamic responses, excitation and NRF. • A general nonparametric model is used to express the structural nonlinearity simulated by MR dampers of different parametric model. • Generality of nonparametric nonlinearity identification approach is validated numerically and experimentally considering different polynomial models. • The displacement and input identified by the proposed method can be accurately identified using only partial noisy acceleration responses. Severe dynamic excitation frequently gives rise to local nonlinear structural behavior in structures. Therefore, due to the diversity of structural nonlinearities, a novel method is proposed for identifying the nonlinear restoring force (NRF) and dynamic loading in a nonparametric manner for multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) structures, which utilizes an improved extended Kalman filter with unknown input (IEKF-UI) using partial degree-of-freedoms (DOFs) acceleration measurements. The first Chebyshev polynomial model (FCPM) and Legendre polynomial model (LPM) are used as the nonparametric models for NRF, respectively. To investigate the generality of the proposed method, numerical simulations and experimental test with MDOF frame structures fitted with different parametric magnetorheological (MR) dampers mimicking diverse nonlinearities are conducted. Results considering different noise levels imply that the nonparametric identification method using different polynomial models is general for the identification of nonlinear structures involving different parametric MR dampers, where identified energy dissipation curves of MR damper are also compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A crack growth model with mixed-mode and frictional damage is implemented into the phase field method to comprehensively investigate crack nucleation, growth, and interaction in heterogeneous rock. • A gradual shift in wing crack initiation from the middle to the end tip of the pre-existing macrocrack, accompanied by a systematic decrease in wing crack length as an increase in macrocrack inclination angle. • Significant increase in the peak strength and Young's modulus of macrocracked samples with increasing macrocrack inclination and homogeneity index. Heterogeneous rocks often exhibit a complex failure pattern of distributed tensile and shear cracks (mixed-mode cracks). In the present paper, we propose a modified phase field modeling (PFM) approach to simulate mixed-mode cracking in rocks, taking into account the effects of material heterogeneity and frictional damage. The proposed model combines the phase field method with a heterogeneous material representation and incorporates a frictional damage to capture the complex behavior of cracks in rocks. A variational formulation is derived based on the Mohr-Coulomb criterion to describe the evolution of the crack phase field. The proposed PFM-based mixed-mode crack growth model is validated against laboratory uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests on sandstone samples that contain a single macroscopic crack using digital image correlation (DIC). We performed a systematic characterization of the cracking and failure process as a function of macrocrack inclination angle, and found that the simulations well match the laboratory results. The results show that the length of wing cracks gradually decreases, and the nature of the damage gradually changes from tensile to shear as a function of macrocrack inclination angle. Based on this validation, we further developed a PFM model that considers multiple macrocracks. In these multi-crack simulations, we found that the crack initiation stress and peak stress decrease and then increase as the ligament angle increases. The proposed PFM-based mixed-mode crack growth model allows for the transition from single to multi-crack simulations and enables a more accurate assessment of the cracking evolution in rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal insulation coating (TIC) is beneficial for reducing building energy consumption. In this work, a joint optimization and analysis approach for multi-parameters of TIC was proposed to determine its optimization trend, importance order of parameter and available parameter combinations. Its radiation characteristics and thermal resistance were comprehensively considered. Based on the approach, TIC was evaluated from energy saving rate of cooling (ESR cool), heating (ESR heat), and total energy consumption (ESR total) in two climates: hot summer cold winter (Shanghai), and hot summer warm winter (Guangzhou). Results indicated that constantly positive ESR cool was only achieved by optimizing solar absorptivity, while constantly positive ESR heat can be obtained by optimizing different parameters. To guarantee positive ESR total , thermal resistance should exceed 0.11 m2·K·W−1 or solar absorptivity should be between 0.2 and 0.6 in Shanghai, while solar absorptivity should be between 0.1 and 0.3 in Guangzhou. For these two cities, the most important parameter was thermal resistance or solar absorptivity. The optimal TIC for Shanghai was "high thermal resistance + low solar absorptivity + low emissivity", while high emissivity was suitable for Guangzhou. By utilizing the approach and results, energy-saving effect of TIC can be optimized during material design, and influence of material aging can be predicted. • A joint optimization and analysis approach for multi-parameters of TIC is proposed. • Optimization and deterioration impact of TIC multiple parameters is evaluated. • Parameter combination law for positive or negative energy saving rate is obtained. • Importance order of parameter is used for optimization design and material aging. • Effect of energy consumption caused by material aging consequences is predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) has excellent electrochemical performance and chemical stability, and has a promising application in solid-state batteries. However, the ionic conductivity needs to be improved when comparing with liquid electrolytes. And doping is a common strategy to improve the ionic conductivity. In this paper, investigated the optimal doping conditions and calcination temperature for the synthesis of Li 7-3x-y Al x La 3 Zr 2-y M y O 12 (M = Ta,Nb;x = 0.2–0.3;y = 0–1) by high-temperature solid-phase method, and the effects of Al Ta and Al Nb co-doping modification on the crystal structure, morphology, densification, and electrical properties of LLZO. The results show that Ta and Nb doping between 0.4 and 0.8 can be synthesized garnet-type LLZO solid electrolytes with stable cubic phase. The calcination temperature and time of Al Ta co-doping is 950 °C and >8 h, Al Nb co-doping is 900 °C and >6 h. Among them, the electrolyte made of Al Nb co-doping is better than Al Ta co-doping in terms of morphology and densification, and the highest ionic conductivity of both of them can reach up to 8.483 × 10−4 S·cm−1 and 7.928 × 10−4 S·cm−1, respectively, and activation energies can reduce to 0.298 eV and 0.301 eV, which are a significant enhancement of the electrical properties. However, the oxides of Nb element are cheaper, and the calcination synthesis temperature is lower and the time is shorter. Therefore, the synthesis of Al Nb co-doped modified LLZO by high-temperature solid-phase method is a low-cost, low energy consumption and high performance industrial production routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid urbanization in China, a large number of rural students have enrolled in urban schools. We investigate the impact of the proportion of rural students on urban students' cognitive ability in urban schools. Using the sample of students who are randomly assigned to classes, we find that in urban schools, the proportion of rural students in the class has a negative effect on the cognitive ability of urban students. This negative effect is more pronounced for boys and students whose parents have a high level of education. We also find that the effect is less salient in schools located closer to the center of the city or in more developed cities. Evidence suggests that urban students in classes with a higher proportion of rural students are more likely to be late for class, have poorer quality friends, and receive more criticism from their head teachers, which consequently hurts their cognitive performance. The poor academic performance of rural students is a plausible explanation instead of the bad behaviors of rural students or social integration. Improving the level of teaching in classes with heterogeneous populations will be the focus of policymakers in the future. • The proportion of rural students negatively affects urban students' cognitive test scores. • This negative effect is more pronounced for boys. • Urban students have lower attendance in classes with more rural students. • Urban students have poorer quality friends in classes with more rural students. • In classes with more rural students, teachers are more critical of urban students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have systematically investigated the effect of i :ZnO window layer with different thickness on the performance of CZTSSe solar cells. The i :ZnO films were deposited on SLG substrate by adjusting the supttering time, and the accurate thickness was determined by XRR spectra. GIXRD, AFM images and absorption spectra show that the crystalline quality is stable and increases with the increase of thickness, while transmittivity declines. Furthermore, CZTSSe solar cells with the structure of SLG/Mo/CZTSSe/CdS/ i :ZnO/ITO/Al were fabricated. It is found that V oc and FF of solar cell are affected by the thickness of i :ZnO layer obviously. The i :ZnO window layer plays an important role in reducing the channels of current leakage. Meanwhile, a compromise among the parallel conductance, series resistance and transmittivity are needed. By optimized the process, the efficiency of CZTSSe solar cell was significantly improved to 10.74 % when the thickness of i :ZnO was about 26 nm. • Investigated the optical properties of i -ZnO thin films with different thicknesses. • Explored the effects of i -ZnO layers on the performance of CZTSSe devices systematically. • The current leakage channels and shunt resistance of CZTSSe devices is significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The electrodes prepared by EPD without binder exhibited excellent electrochemical properties. • Enhancement of arsenic removal was achieved by a combination of capacitive deionization and chemical adsorption. • The trace arsenic (0.1 mg/L) was effectively removed to below 2 ppb. • The co-existence of chlorine ion, fluoride ion or sulfate didn't affect arsenic removal. In this paper, functionalized CNTs and Fe 3 O 4 were compounded by co-precipitation method and the binder-free capacitive deionization (CDI) electrodes were innovative prepared by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. The effects of applied voltage, flow rate and solution pH on the adsorption capacity of arsenic were investigated. The results confirmed that introduction of different functional groups (–COOH, -SO 3 H and -PO 3 H 2) and composite transition metal oxide (Fe 3 O 4) led to the materials not only with enhanced hydrophilicity but also with higher capacitance. The CDI test showed that trace arsenic can be effective treated to less 2 μg/L, which satisfied the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standard (below 10 μg/L). The CNTs-X@Fe 3 O 4 electrode was found to maintain specific adsorption of arsenic through selectivity experiments. In addition, the combined electro-sorption and chemisorption effectively produce higher adsorption capacity, faster adsorption rate and high selectivity. Therefore, the electrode prepared by EPD has a high prospect of application in arsenic removal by CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most existing material design studies assume that radiative cooling (RC) windows should be ideal radiators with high emissivity (ε λ ∼ 1) in wide infrared band (IR, 2.5–20 μm). However, whether this assumption is universal has not been tested. Different from previous studies based on experiments and steady-state theoretical calculation models, a transient building heat transfer model with facade windows verified by experiments is used to explore the optimal design of IR emissivity of RC windows. Results show that the RC effect of windows is not always improved as traditionally expected with the increase of emissivity ( ε ‾ NAW) in the infrared " non-atmospheric window (NAW) " band. In fact, the adjustment trend of ε ‾ NAW for the RC effect of windows is reversed. Smaller ε ‾ NAW can weaken the heat flow into the room and prolong the time that windows become " coolers ". A wider range of window-to-wall ratios are also studied, and it is found that the design of selective high emissivity ( ε ‾ NAW ∼0) is more conducive to the RC of windows. It is proved that the current default design of the RC window emissivity in IR band is non-universal, and new laws found provide an enlightening guide for the material development of RC windows. • A reversal trend of RC regulation of window emissivity outside the AW is revealed. • Smaller window emissivity outside the AW extends the time windows become coolers. • Designs with selective high emissivity may be more favorable for the RC of windows. • The default "broadband, high emissivity" of RC windows in IR band is not universal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical approach is presented to comprehensively describe a meticulously designed gold nanoarray situated on a silicon waveguide(length (L) and width(W) are 12 µm and 3 µm). The incorporation of a glass substrate with an L and W of 12 µm is proposed as a means to achieve broadband focusing. At the same time, a demultiplexing element utilizing surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waves is introduced, employing a novel phase modulation method that uses in-plane diffraction processes. The analytical calculations are focused on the sublattice arrays, which are currently under investigation to enhance the performance of demultiplexers and confocal SPP beams. The suggested method exhibits various functionalities that make it a promising approach. Its planar construction ensures a streamlined and integrated design, and the absence of SPP coupling processes adds to its practicality for implementation in photonic integrations. By leveraging the unique properties of the gold nanoarray on the silicon waveguide, combined with the glass substrate for broadband focusing and the novel phase modulation method for demultiplexing SPP waves, this approach holds great potential for advancing the field of photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide. The logistics industry is the second largest source of CO 2 emissions, second only to the manufacturing industry. Therefore, developing effective environmental regulations to achieve low-carbon transformation in the logistics industry is an urgent task for government managers. Based on the 2005–2021 panel data of China's 30 provinces, this article adopts a data-driven nonparametric additive model to investigate the role of environmental regulations in CO 2 emission reduction in the logistics industry. The results display that overall, environmental regulations contribute to carbon reduction in the logistics industry (an inverted N-shaped effect). After endogeneity test and various robustness tests such as replacing the variable value of core variable, this conclusion still has good reliability. Further heterogeneity analysis indicates that the carbon reduction effect of mandatory environmental regulations fluctuates frequently (a W-shaped impact). However, the carbon reduction impact of incentive environmental regulations has gradually shifted from insignificant in the early stages to prominent in the later stages (an inverted U-shaped pattern). Regional heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of environmental regulations on carbon reduction in the eastern, central, and western regions also has significant nonlinear characteristics. Finally, this article verifies that technological innovation and energy consumption structure are effective intermediate mechanisms for environmental regulations to affect emission reduction. The research findings provide practical inspiration for the government to formulate relevant environmental policies and promote the green development of the logistics industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease that typically develops after a previous gastrointestinal (GI) infection. However, the exact association between Gut Microbiota (GM) and GBS still remains unknown due to various challenges. This study aimed to investigate the potential causal association between GM and GBS by using a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR) analysis. Utilizing the largest available genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis from the MiBioGen consortium (n = 13,266) as a foundation, we conducted a TSMR to decipher the causal relationship between GM and GBS. Various analytical methods were employed, including the inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger, and weighted median. The heterogeneity of instrumental variables (IVs) was assessed using Cochran's Q statistics. The analysis identified three microbial taxa with a significantly increased risk association for GBS, including Ruminococcus gnavus group (OR = 1.40, 95 % CI: 1.07–1.83), Ruminococcus gauvreauii group (OR = 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.02–2.25), and Ruminococcaceae UCG009 (OR = 1.42, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.97), while Eubacterium brachy group (OR = 1.44, 95 % CI: 1.10–1.87) and Romboutsia (OR = 1.67, 95 % CI: 1.12–2.47) showed a suggestively causal association. On the other hand, Ruminococcaceae UCG004 (OR = 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.41–0.91) had a protective effect on GBS, while Bacilli (OR = 0.60, 95 % CI: 0.38–0.96), Gamma proteobacteria (OR = 0.63, 95 % CI: 0.41–0.98) and Lachnospiraceae UCG001 (OR = 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.49–0.96) showed a suggestively protective association for GBS. The MR analysis suggests a potential causal relationship between specific GM taxa and the risk of GBS. However, further extensive research involving diversified populations is imperative to validate these findings. • The association between Gut Microbiota (GM) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) remains unknown due to various challenges; • This is the first study to identify the causal effects of GM on GBS through Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis; • Our results may provide new evidence for potential causal relationship between specific GM taxa and the risk of GBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Analyzing the refractory element on Ni 2 TiAl by first-principles calculation. • Nb provides the maximum toughness and maintains hardness simultaneously. • Hf provides the largest hardness and maximum toughness loss. • V and Cr significantly enhance the bonding strength and stability. Refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) are attracting wide attention due to their excellent high-temperature strength. L2 1 -Ni 2 TiAl was found as a strengthening phase in high entropy alloys (HEAs) which significantly improves room and elevated-temperature mechanical properties. To explore the potential application in RHEAs, we address the calculations of 7 refractory elements (i.e., V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, and Ta) doping from first principles on the site preference, elastic properties and bonding effect of Ni 2 TiAl. The results show that the antisite defects is more stable than the vacancy defects. Elements Cr and Mo prefer the Ni-sites, while V, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Ta prefer the Ti-sites. Moreover, all the doping elements lead to a lattice shrinkage, among which V cause the largest distortion. For the normalized shear modulus (G/G 0), all the elements increase except Nb, of which Hf rank the top. While for the normalized bulk modulus (B/B 0), all the elements slightly increase except Hf. Furthermore, Nb is the only one to improve the toughness but has little impact on hardness (Hv), then Hf improves hardness the most. Additionally, all the doping elements decrease the anisotropy of Young's modulus for Ni 2 TiAl, of which Nb has the largest anisotropy, leading to a weak resistance to deformation. Notably, the density of states (DOS) shows that V and Cr can effectively improve the bonding stability and strength of Ni 2 TiAl. Overall, the alloying of Nb, V, and Cr may synergistically improve the stability and toughness of Ni 2 TiAl, which is expected to develop novel RHEAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen dough technology has been widely used in the food industry at home and abroad due to its advantages of extending shelf life, preventing aging, and facilitating refrigeration and transportation. However, during the transportation and storage process of frozen dough, the growth and recrystallization of ice crystals caused by temperature fluctuations can lead to a deterioration in the quality of the dough, resulting in poor sensory characteristics of the final product and decreased consumption, which limits the large-scale application of frozen dough. In response to this issue, antifreeze proteins (AFPs) could be used as a beneficial additive to frozen dough that can combine with ice crystals, modify the ice crystal morphology, reduce the freezing point of water, and inhibit the recrystallization of ice crystals. Because of its special structure and function, it can well alleviate the quality deterioration problem caused by ice crystal recrystallization during frozen storage of dough, especially the plant-derived AFPs, which have a prominent effect on inhibiting ice crystal recrystallization. In this review, we introduce the characteristics and mechanisms of action of plant-derived AFPs. Furthermore, the application of plant-derived AFPs in frozen dough are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen dough technology has been widely used in the food industry at home and abroad due to its advantages of extending shelf life, preventing aging, and facilitating refrigeration and transportation. However, during the transportation and storage process of frozen dough, the growth and recrystallization of ice crystals caused by temperature fluctuations can lead to a deterioration in the quality of the dough, resulting in poor sensory characteristics of the final product and decreased consumption, which limits the large-scale application of frozen dough. In response to this issue, antifreeze proteins (AFPs) could be used as a beneficial additive to frozen dough that can combine with ice crystals, modify the ice crystal morphology, reduce the freezing point of water, and inhibit the recrystallization of ice crystals. Because of its special structure and function, it can well alleviate the quality deterioration problem caused by ice crystal recrystallization during frozen storage of dough, especially the plant-derived AFPs, which have a prominent effect on inhibiting ice crystal recrystallization. In this review, we introduce the characteristics and mechanisms of action of plant-derived AFPs. Furthermore, the application of plant-derived AFPs in frozen dough are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plasma partial oxidative reforming of the tar model compound was carried out. • A detailed kinetics model was established based on the calculated G-values of active species. • Performance was evaluated under pure N 2 and gasification gas atmospheres. • The highest toluene conversion was 100.0 % with an energy efficiency of 25.7 g/kWh, without catalysts usage. In this study, partial oxidation of toluene as a biomass tar surrogate was carried out in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor. In order to understand the reaction characteristics and thus potential of the approach, the effect of reaction temperature, O 2 /toluene molar ratio (OTR) and discharge power on performances was investigated by experiments and kinetic modeling. The results showed that the three factors could change the E/n and hence the G-values of species, as well as alter O 2 concentration in background gas and input energy, leading to the variation in active species production and thus, the performance. Appropriate high temperatures, as well as higher OTRs and discharge power obtained better performances by promoting toluene destruction and gas product production. Excited N 2 species play a crucial role in the process, by means of participating in reactions directly and strongly influencing on the production of secondary active species. At 300 °C, the highest toluene conversion of 100.0 % with an energy efficiency of 25.7 g/kWh was achieved without catalysts usage, a comparable performance as compared to the steam reforming by plasma catalysis, demonstrating the potential of this method for the purification of gasification gases. Furthermore, based on the rate of production (ROP) and sensitivity analyses of the model developed, as well as experimental results, the reaction mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel mild and recyclable ethylenediamine (EDA) pretreatment method was developed. This pretreatment process efficiently eliminated lignin and facilitated the recovery of pretreatment reagents. Under optimized conditions at 70 °C, more than half of lignin was removed from the corn stover (CS). Consequently, the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucose and xylose achieved yields of 82.1% and 50.4%, respectively. Notably, the recovered EDA was efficiently reused and maintained comparable pretreatment efficiency even after five rounds of recovery. The pretreated CS was effectively used for bacterial cellulose fermentation without requiring additional detoxification steps. Furthermore, the analysis of EDA lignin (EL) revealed the presence of numerous amino groups introduced into the lignin structure. Subsequently, EL was used in the polyurethane (PU) foam preparation. The results revealed that EL-based PU foam featured higher compressive strength, density, thermal stability, and adsorption capacity for dyes and heavy metal ions compared with alkali lignin-based PU foam. [Display omitted] • A mild and recyclable pretreatment process was developed. • Pretreated biomass achieved high bacterial cellulose yield without detoxification. • Lignin was separated and aminated during pretreatment. • Properties of aminated lignin-based polyurethane foam surpass alkaline lignin's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, financial development and renewable energy technologies have become new tools to stimulate wind power development, attracting attention from the government and academia. However, most existing literature uses linear methods to investigate wind power, masking the nonlinear relationship between these factors and wind power development. The objective of this study is to reveal the nonlinear relationships between these economic factors and wind power development, providing a basis for the government to design differentiated phased policies. Compared to traditional linear methods, the nonparametric models can truly simulate the nonlinear relationship between these economic factors and wind power development. Given this, this article uses the nonparametric additive regression model to investigate these links. The result of this study shows: (1) financial decentralization produces a U-shaped impact on wind power, indicating that expanding the autonomy of local financial institutions has driven wind power development in the later stage. (2) The impact of renewable energy technologies demonstrates an inverted U-shaped pattern, signifying that the driving effect of green technology has shifted from being prominent in the early stage to being reduced in the later stage. (3) Energy subsidies also exert an inverted U-shaped effect, meaning that its driving role is prominent in the early stage. (4) In addition, the impacts of CO 2 emissions, wind power prices, environmental governance investments, and urbanization on wind power development also exhibit non-linear characteristics. Finally, this article proposes policies in response to the stage where economic tools don't play a role in driving wind power development. [Display omitted] • Financial decentralization has a U-shaped impact on the wind power industry. • The impact of renewable energy technologies is an inverted U-shaped pattern. • Energy subsidies exert an inverted U-shaped effect on wind power. • Wind power prices produce a positive U-shaped influence. • Environmental governance investments impose a W-shaped effect on wind power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporadic E (Es) layers are thin enhanced ionization patches. The electron density of Es layer is very high, up to 100 times that of the regular E layer. Therefore, Es layer has a significant effect on radio wave propagation. The formation mechanisms of Es layers is very complicated, so it needs multi-observations and simulations research. Combined observations using an ionosonde, very high frequency (VHF) coherent backscatter radar, VHF broadband backscatter radar, and meteor radar were performed. The height and irregular structure of mid-latitude Es layers observed by ionosonde, VHF coherent backscatter radar and VHF broadband backscatter radar were compared with the zonal and meridional winds observed by meteor radar, the role of wind shear on the formation of Es layer was confirmed, and examples were also found where wind shear theory could not explain and apply to the formation of Es layer. We simulated the formation of Es layers based on wind shear theory. The results of simulations and observations revealed other potential role for Es layer formation besides wind shear. By comparing the height of turbopause with that of Es layer, it was found that the variation of the altitudes of turbopause and Es layer was consistent over different latitude stations, and the effect of the turbopause on the formation of Es layer was proposed. The combined effects of eddy diffusion below and molecular ion collision above turbopause can prevent metal ions from drifting downward and promote their convergence to form thin plasma layers at the turbopause height. The turbopause accumulation effect is considered as a potentially important mechanism for the formation of Es layers besides wind shear theory. The study in the paper is helpful for analysis of physical origin and modeling of Es layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of phase change material (PCM) and cool paint (CP) to building envelope is one of the effective solutions to improve thermal comfort of passive buildings. Therefore, the thermal performance of buildings in Hefei, China in autumn is compared and analyzed by integrating PCM and CP into the building envelope. According to the comprehensive analysis of indoor thermal environment and the ability to maintain indoor thermal comfort, it is concluded that the combined application of PCM and CP is better than the application of PCM or CP alone. And the combination of PCM and CP laid on the south wall and roof respectively is the best. It is more suitable for commercial buildings, which can prolong indoor air temperature (T i) in the thermal comfort zone for more than 10 h during the day. The combination of PCM and CP laid on the roof can prolong T i in the thermal comfort zone for more than 8.05 h, which is more suitable for residential buildings. The purpose is to explore the best combination mode of residential and commercial buildings according to the characteristics of temperature change and building types (according to people's main use time) in the real environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A unified numerical model of flexible constrained arc is established. • The annular flexible constrained gas flow can increase arc energy density. • The gas flow constrained arc causes eddy at small arc lengths, easily leading to electrode contamination. • The gas flow constrained arc can effectively inhibit metal vapor backflow. Energy dispersion and easy instability associated with arcs, the traditional metal processing heat source, restrict its development and application in the modern high-precision welding and additive manufacturing. This work aims to study the characteristics of a novel arc under circumferential gas constraint effect which can improve the arc stability and processing accuracy. A magnetohydrodynamics model was established to calculate the arc physics and heat transfer, considering the electron emission characteristics of tungsten and the effect of metal vapor. It indicates that the annular flexible constrained gas flow can significantly increase the physical characteristics such as arc temperature, plasma flow velocity and current density compared with traditional free arc which is named GTA. The arc heat generation increasement of the novel arc makes the heat transfer from arc to base metal higher than that of GTA. The additional annular gas flow inhibits the diffusion of metal vapor, stabilizing the arc and protecting the tungsten electrode from contamination. However, as the arc length decreases, eddy of arc plasma flow appears inside the arc, which can cause metal vapor to contaminate the tungsten. It's found that this novel gas flow constrained arc needs to be applied with a small current when welding with small arc length to avoid the eddy. Finally, the accuracy of the calculation model is verified by experimental detection of arc temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomalous values commonly observed in monitoring data can severely impact dam structural health monitoring. Hence, it is crucial to establish reliable models for identifying various anomalies in dam monitoring systems. This paper develops a multi-point anomaly recognition model by coupling improved Local Outlier Factor (LOF) and mutual validations considering spatio-temporal correlation. The proposed model is evaluated using real-world displacement data from concrete and rockfill dams, and the results demonstrate its satisfactory accuracy and superior robustness across the whole dam monitoring section. This work provides a dependable database for dam safety assessment and a valuable reference for recognizing the cause of anomalies. Further research directions should be focused on the recognition of anomalies in more complex monitoring data and the processing of data after removing outliers. • A framework is developed to construct two-dimensional point sets as identification samples. • The proposed multi-point model achieves improved accuracy and robustness of dam monitoring data anomaly recognition. • Analysis for spatiotemporal correlation of outliers offers a novel perspective on the anomaly cause recognition. • The identification results can provide a reliable database for further dam safety assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera, and associated with its objects within the field of view, localization could benefit many computer vision fields, such as autonomous driving, robot navigation, and augmented reality (AR). After decades of progress, camera localization, also called camera pose estimation could compute the 6DoF pose of objects for a camera in a given image, with respect to different images in a sequence or formats. Structure feature-based localization methods have achieved great success when integrated with image matching or with a coordinate regression stage. Absolute and relative pose regression methods using transfer learning can support end-to-end localization to directly regress a camera pose but achieve a less accurate performance. Despite the rapid development of multiple branches in this area, a comprehensive, in-depth and comparative analysis is lacking to summarize, classify and compare, structure feature-based and regression-based camera localization methods. Existing surveys either focus on larger SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) systems or on only part of the camera localization method, lack detailed comparisons and descriptions of the methods or datasets used, neural network designs such as loss designs, and input formats, etc. In this survey, we first introduce specific application areas and the evaluation metrics for camera localization pose according to different sub-tasks (learning-based 2D-2D task, 2D-3D task, and 3D-3D task). Then, we review common methods for structure feature-based camera pose estimation approaches, absolute pose regression and relative pose regression approaches by critically modelling the methods to inspire further improvements in their algorithms such as loss functions, and neural network structures. Furthermore, we summarize what are the popular datasets used for camera localization and compare the quantitative and qualitative results of these methods with detailed performance metrics. Finally, we discuss future research possibilities and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel biphasic solvent based on polyamine was developed for CO 2 capture. • Microcalorimetry strategy was used to directly measure the CO 2 absorption heat. • The energy consumption of this absorbent was 32.6 % lower than that of 5 M MEA. • This biphasic solvent has superior phase-splitting behavior. • The salting-out effect was the main reason for the phase-splitting behavior. The CO 2 phase change absorbents(CPCAs) formed by introducing phase-splitting agents have attracted increasing attention because of their great energy-saving potential. However, the volatilization problem of the phase-splitting agents and the high viscosity of the solution affect the application of CPCAs. In this work, a novel CPCAs based on 2-Methylpiperazine (2MPRZ)/H 2 O was established by introducing triethylene glycol monobutyl ether (TGBE) with a high boiling point as a phase-splitting agent, and the 2MPRZ/H 2 O/TGBE system exhibited low volatility and low viscosity. The CO 2 capture performance of the novel CPCAs with different ratios was investigated in this work. The best CO 2 absorption rate was achieved by 2.5 M 2MPRZ/H 2 O/TGBE. The viscosity of this system before and after the CO 2 absorption process was merely 7.68 mPa·s and 11.64 mPa·s, respectively, and no volatilization of the phase-splitting agent was observed simultaneously. A convenient and rapid titration method was employed to determine the distribution of the 2MPRZ products in the two phases, which showed that 98 % of the 2MPRZ products were located in the CO 2 -rich phase. In addition, the CO 2 -rich phase captured 99 % of the total CO 2 , indicating that this system has superior phase-splitting behaviors. The regeneration energy consumption of this biphasic absorbent was 2.59 GJ/t CO 2 , which was 32.6 % lower than that of traditional MEA. Furthermore, the salting-out effect was proved to be the cause of the phase-splitting behavior by 13C NMR analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the characteristics of a dominant strain wx3 isolated from the tissues of several sick red swamp crayfish were studied, and the immune response of the red swamp crayfish under stress was analyzed. The whole genome analysis of wx3 identified it as Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. Masoucida , which was confirmed using the bacterial challenge test, and is the pathogen that causes red swamp crayfish head rot. The sensitivity of wx3 to a variety of antibiotics was found that wx3 was highly sensitive to 13 antibiotics, but was not sensitive to 4 antibiotics. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that 811 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in the hepatopancreas 48 h after wx3 infection. The KEGG pathway analysis and GO analysis detected differentially expressed immune related genes, including C-type lectin 3 and Hsp22, which were upregulated, and also enriched in immune related pathways, such as the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, etc. In conclusion, by analyzing transcriptome, we found that red swamp crayfish infected with wx3 can exert a strong immune response. • It was found for the first time that Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. Masoucida caused the disease of red swamp crayfish. • Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. Masoucida can induce the expression of C-type lectin 3 and Hsp22 in red swamp crayfish. • wx3 showed severe drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electrodeposition and sodium dithionite reduction for gold recovery was compared. • Gold began to deposit at the potential of lower than −100 mV Hg/HgO. • Cl−, S 2 O 3 2− and SO 3 2− exhibited different effects on gold deposition/reduction. • Sodium dithionite reduction displayed better gold recovery performance. • Sodium dithionite reduction had better solution stability and lower recovery cost. A comparative study was performed on electrodeposition and sodium dithionite reduction for recovering gold in the gold-rich solution from the adsorption of thiosulfate solution by ion exchange resin. Using electrodeposition method, gold started to deposit when the potential was lower than −100 mV Hg/HgO. The rise of Cl− concentration improved gold deposition while the increases of SO 3 2− and S 2 O 3 2− concentrations were unbeneficial to gold deposition. When the solution was deposited at the optimum potential of −600 mV Hg/HgO for 5 h, the gold deposition percentage reached 99.33 %. With sodium dithionite reduction method, the gold reduction percentage achieved 100 % after only 5 min as S 2 O 4 2− dosage was eight times of the theoretical amount. The increases of SO 3 2− and S 2 O 3 2− concentrations hindered gold reduction while the augment of Cl− concentration had no obvious effect. Overall, sodium dithionite reduction method has the advantages of shorter reaction time, higher gold recovery percentage, better solution stability and lower recovery cost, and thus it has a broader industrial application prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three possible pathways for bicarbonate generation were investigated based on DFT. • Base-catalyzed CO 2 hydration is dominant in [N 1111 ][Gly]/EtOH aqueous system. • Water effect on phase change behavior is analyzed from hydrogen bonding view. • Water content of 5 wt% promotes products aggregation in favor of phase change. Ionic liquids-based anhydrous biphasic absorbents have the potential to lower the energy consumption for CO 2 capture. Recent experimental studies have revealed that the presence of water in [N 1111 ][Gly]/EtOH system leads to generation of a new CO 2 -product – bicarbonate and affects the phase change behavior. However, the reaction pathway for bicarbonate formation remains unclear. In this work, the reaction pathways were investigated in depth through quantum chemical calculations employing density functional theory, with reaction rate constants determined via transition state theory. Among the three possible reaction pathways, the base-catalyzed CO 2 hydration reaction prevailed, i.e. a one-step reaction involving [Gly]-, H 2 O, and CO 2. An H atom in H 2 O was transferred to [Gly]-'s amino group, forming protonated [Gly]-, and hydroxide combined with CO 2 to generate bicarbonate. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to understand the phase change behaviors with varying water content. When water content exceeded 5 wt%, an increased water content led to reduced hydrogen bonding among products and enhanced hydrogen bonding of products-solvent with the solvent, diminishing product self-aggregation. No phase change behavior were observed at water contents up to 80 wt%. This study could well explain the experimental phenomena of water effect on CO 2 absorption in [N 1111 ][Gly]/EtOH, providing theoretical references for application of ILs-based anhydrous biphasic absorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The metal-phenolic network (MPN) coating strategy was employed for surface modification of nitrocellulose (NC) to form a multi-functional NC@MPN complexes. • The thermal stability and predicted thermal safety of NC@MPN composites were significantly enhanced compared with pure NC. • The pyrolysis residue of NC@MPN composites was reduced by more than 50 %. • The reaction mechanism of MPN in NC@MPN composites was proposed from the viewpoint of thermal decomposition. • The influence of different numbers of MPN layers on the thermal stability of NC was investigated. Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) have received widespread interest owing to their ability to incorporate metal ions and phenolic ligands in a modular manner. However, the effect of MPNs on nitrocellulose (NC), an energetic material for propulsion, has not been extensively investigated. Herein, we fabricated MPN-coated NC fibers (NC@MPN) and confirmed the successful coating and homogeneous distribution of MPN on the surface of NC through Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The thermal stability of NC was enhanced as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) and the ignition point test. The thermal decomposition activation energy of NC@MPN can reach 200.73 kJ•mol−1, 7.50 % higher than that of NC primitive fiber (186.72 kJ•mol−1). The ARC tests demonstrate that the implementation of MPN coating prolonged the time of entering the adiabatic section by 5.4 °C and the forecast temperatures for TD8 and TD24 have increased by 4.6 and 4.8 °C, respectively. Additionally, the ignition point was also raised by 2 °C. The aforementioned three experimental results provide evidence for the enhanced thermal stability conferred by MPNs. Besides, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrate a reduction in the residue from thermal decomposition. The present study presents a simple and robust coating strategy for the modular surface engineering of energetic materials, which significantly improves thermal stability and reduces the residues of thermal decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pioneered the investigation of the impact of natural protected areas policies on the resilience of ecological networks, enriching empirical research on the influence of natural protected areas on the ecological environment. • Developed a multilevel scenario-based attack framework to assess ecological network resilience from a dynamic perspective. • Innovatively explored the influence of natural protected areas with varying connectivity levels on ecological network resilience. In the context of accelerating ecological fragmentation, it is urgent to enhance the interconnectivity of urban ecological patches to form a resilient ecological network (EN). The construction of a Natural Protected Area (NPA) system proposed in 2019 is the latest strategy implemented by China in protecting ecological spaces. However, the effectiveness of this strategy has not been adequately demonstrated. This study specifically analyzes the concrete impacts of the natural protected area system on the resilience of ecological networks (ENs). The economically developed Urban Agglomeration around Hangzhou Bay (UAHB) was chosen as an example for the argumentation. Firstly, we utilized circuit theory to construct an EN consisting of 173 ecological sources and 401 ecological corridors. Secondly, the ecological sources were categorized into three levels based on their connectivity values. Finally, a dynamic disturbance scenario simulation framework was constructed to evaluate the impact of NPA on the resilience of EN. The results indicated that: (1) The preceding 47% of ecological sources are crucial for maintaining the resilience of the EN; (2) Compared with other ecological spaces, NPAs have a 38% and 1100% greater effect on the resilience of the EN in first and second-level ecological sources, respectively, while its impact in third-level is 118% lower. This study innovatively investigates the differential impacts of hierarchical natural protected areas and natural unprotected areas on the ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The duct has the potential to provide additional thrust, which can enhance the overall aerodynamic performance of the system. Nonetheless, since the duct and the rotor interact with each other, it is crucial to consider their interaction while optimizing the system for improved performance. This paper presents a parameterization approach for the duct and rotor. Primarily, a rotor space characterization and parameter modeling method that utilizes Bezier curves, class functions/shape functions, and Bernstein polynomials is proposed. Next, the aerodynamic performance of different key factors of the duct-rotor system is calculated and analyzed using a numerical calculation method. The study found that the coupling effect of camber y f and chord length parameter B c 3 had a significant impact on the thrust coefficient, with a contribution rate of 7.3 %. Correspondingly, the coupling effect of camber y f and torsion angle parameter B a 3 had a great influence on the Figure of Merit (FM), with a contribution rate of 7.1 %. The thrust coefficient and FM of the rotor-duct system were optimized by taking the coupling effect into consideration, and the optimized ducted rotor was verified by experimental measurement. The test results shows that the high thrust case achieves a 25.60 % increase in thrust coefficient, while the high- FM case establishes an 8.89 % increase in the FM. This implies that the collaborative optimization based on the coupling effect of duct and rotor shape parameters can effectively improve the system's performance, such as thrust coefficient and Figure of Merit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Brain organoids hold great potential for modeling human brain development and pathogenesis. They recapitulate certain aspects of the transcriptional trajectory, cellular diversity, tissue architecture and functions of the developing brain. In this review, we explore the engineering strategies to control the molecular-, cellular- and tissue-level inputs to achieve high-fidelity brain organoids. We review the application of brain organoids in neural disorder modeling and emerging bioengineering methods to improve data collection and feature extraction at multiscale. The integration of multiscale engineering strategies and analytical methods has significant potential to advance insight into neurological disorders and accelerate drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the processing of vanadium, the inevitable incorporation of impurities can exert a significant influence on the mechanical properties. In this work, the effects of common impurity elements (H, C, N, O, Al, Cr and Fe) on elastic properties and V ∑3(111) grain boundary strength were studied by first-principles calculations. The results show that the H, C, N, O and Al elements can improve the deformation resistance but reduce the ductility of vanadium, whereas Fe exhibit the opposite effect. Electronic structure analysis provided a reasonable explanation for the observed changes in elastic properties. Then, first-principles-based tensile tests were carried out on vanadium grain boundary with impurities. The findings demonstrate that C enhances the tensile strength of vanadium grain boundary by improving the weakest bonds between adjacent V atoms. Conversely, the detrimental effect of O was attributed to the reduction of interaction between V atoms. This study contributes to a better knowledge of the potential positive and negative impacts of impurities on the mechanical properties of vanadium and provides valuable insights for future research in materials processing. [Display omitted] • The tensile test based on first principles was used to investigate the strength of grain boundaries. • The mechanism of action of impurity atoms is explained by utilizing electron structure. • C, N, O, H, and Al decrease the ductility of vanadium, while Fe and Cr increase it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a typical endocrine disruptor, which can be used as an industrial raw material for the synthesis of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, etc. Recently, BPA has appeared on the list of priority new pollutants for control in various countries and regions. In this study, phenolic resin waste was utilized as a multi-carbon precursor for the electrocatalytic cathode and loaded with cobalt/nitrogen (Co/N) on its surface to form qualitative two-dimensional carbon nano-flakes (Co/NC). The onset potentials, half-wave potentials, and limiting current densities of the nitrogen-doped composite carbon material Co/NC in oxygen saturated 0.5 mol H 2 SO 4 were −0.08 V, −0.61 V, and −0.41 mA cm−2; and those of alkaline conditions were −0.65 V, −2.51 V, and −0.38 mA cm−2, and the corresponding indexes were improved compared with those of blank titanium electrodes, which indicated that the constructed nitrogen-doped composite carbon material Co/NC was superior in oxygen reduction ability. The catalysis by metallic cobalt as well as the N-hybridized active sites significantly improved the efficiency of electrocatalytic degradation of BPA. In the electro-Fenton system, the yield of hydrogen peroxide generated by cathodic reduction of oxygen was 4.012 mg L−1, which effectively promoted the activation of hydroxyl radicals. The removal rate of BPA was above 95% within 180 min. This work provides a new insight for the design and development of novel catalyst to degrade organic pollutants. [Display omitted] • Carbon materials prepared from phenolic resin waste as electrocatalytic cathodes. • Removal rate of BPA was above 95% within 180 min. • In situ activation of H 2 O 2 generated by cathodic reduction using Co. • Graphite-type nitrogen and pyridine-type nitrogen form catalytic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mo-based MXene is first applied as a cathode catalyst for Li-CO 2 batteries. • An innovative surface modification strategy, mild oxidation by CO 2 , is employed. • The catalyst optimizes the growth and decomposition of discharge products. • This MoO 2 @Mo 2 C-based Li-CO 2 battery outperforms most other MXene-based catalysts. The lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO 2) batteries hold promise for energy storage, given their capacity to capture and convert carbon dioxide (CO 2). However, the practical application of Li-CO 2 batteries continues to face substantial obstacles caused by sluggish CO 2 reduction/evolution kinetics, resulting in high overpotential and short lifespan. This work presents the fabrication of a highly effective MoO 2 @Mo 2 C heterostructure hybrid catalyst using a CO 2 oxidation strategy. This strategy integrated (in-situ) MoO 2 onto the surface of two-dimensional (2D) Mo 2 C MXene, enhancing catalytic activity while preserving 2D electron/ion pathways. As a result, the MoO 2 @Mo 2 C, when used as a catalyst in Li-CO 2 battery showcased a discharge capacity of 20790.8 mAh g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1. Notably, it achieved a long cycling life of 230 cycles at a cutoff capacity of 1000 mAh g−1 with a voltage gap as low as 1.85 V, which was significantly superior to that of a pristine Mo 2 CT x catalyst (3.61 V after twenty cycles). This work provides critical insights into the design of MXenes-based high-performance catalysts for advanced Li-CO 2 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MXene was used as conductive substrate to reinforce the structural stability of Sb@C. • The MXene and carbon can spatially confine the Sb particles during cycling. • The MXene-Sb@C shows better lithium storage properties than the Sb@C composite. • The assembled Li ion full cell delivers a maximum energy density of 381.2 Wh kg−1. Antimony (Sb) is recognized as a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and adequate working potential. However, its application is hindered by the significant volume expansion during lithiation and low intrinsic conductivity, leading to considerable capacity fading and reduced rate capability. Herein, a unique MXene-reinforced Sb@C (MSC) nanocomposite is constructed via in-situ growing Sb-MOF over the conductive MXene substrate, followed by annealing. MXene substrate and MOF-derived carbon layer coupling effectively creates a continuous and conductive framework, encapsulating Sb nanoparticles. This unique architecture mitigates volume expansion, prevents particle aggregation, and enhances interfacial charge transfer, significantly improving the lithium storage performance of the MSC nanocomposite over its Sb@C (SC) counterpart. The MSC nanocomposite achieves a high capacity of 625 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, superior rate capability of 305 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1, as well as excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 84.4 % over 2000 continuous cycles. Additionally, a lithium-ion full batteries with MSC anode and LiFePO 4 cathode demonstrates a capacity of 168.9 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and a maximum energy density of 381.2 Wh kg−1 based on the cathode mass, illustrating its promising potential for constructing high-performance lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]